Kentucky’s high school football Class of 2019 is loaded with high-level college prospects, but the race for Mr. Football honors looks to be a two-man affair – at least in the preseason.

Western Hills’ Wandale Robinson and Christian Academy’s Milton Wright are both four-star recruits and are expected to post the types of eye-popping offensive statistics that will put them ahead of talented offensive linemen or defensive stars.

A few reminders about the Mr. Football process:

» Only seniors are eligible.

» The winner is selected by a media-only vote.

» Voting takes place following the state championship games.

The following list of top 10 Mr. Football contenders should not be considered a list of the top 10 college prospects in Kentucky. Instead, it should be viewed as a list of the top 10 candidates based on the factors most voters consider at the end of the season.

History shows offensive players have a much better chance to win the award than defensive players. Since Mr. Football was first handed out in 1986, 27 of the 32 winners have come from the following positions: quarterbacks (14), running backs (nine), wide receivers (three) and tight ends (one). There have been four linebackers to win the award and one defensive lineman (Harrodsburg’s Dennis Johnson in 1997).

Candidates listed in alphabetical order:

ANTHONY ADKINS

LARUE COUNTY, ATHLETE

Adkins wasn’t considered a high-end recruit until attending summer camps this year for the first time and landing a University of Louisville scholarship offer, which he accepted. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Adkins has played nearly every position on both sides of the ball for the Hawks. Last season he rushed for 680 yards and 11 touchdowns on 97 carries and caught eight passes for 210 yards and four scores. He also had 17 tackles while playing tackle, linebacker and safety.

TRE BASS

FRANKLIN-SIMPSON, RUNNING BACK

The 5-8, 180-pound Bass helped Franklin-Simpson win the Class 4-A state championship last season while rushing for 1,457 yards and 14 touchdowns on 104 carries. He also had 12 catches for 245 yards and four scores. Bass is a long shot for Mr. Football honors, but if he can improve on those numbers as a senior and the Wildcats have another stellar season, he could find himself in the mix. He has scholarship offers from Morehead State and Southeast Missouri State.

TANNER BOWLES

GLASGOW, OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

It would take a miracle for an offensive lineman to win Mr. Football honors, but it’s hard to completely ignore such a highly recruited prospect who has committed to Alabama. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Bowles had scholarship offers from several other of the nation’s top programs – including Florida State, LSU and Oklahoma – before committing to the Crimson Tide. Glasgow averaged 33.9 points per game and reached the Class 2-A state semifinals last year and likely will need to accomplish even more for Bowles to have a chance to take the award.

JOEY CAMBRON

DAVIESS COUNTY, QUARTERBACK

The 6-foot, 175-pound Cambron isn’t big in stature, but he posted huge numbers last season for the Panthers. Cambron led the state in passing yards (4,078) and touchdowns passes (49) while completing 56.1 percent of his passes (236 of 421) with just 11 interceptions. He isn’t a household name around Kentucky, but voters will take notice if he posts video-game-like numbers once again in 2018.

DEMONTAE CRUMES

BUTLER, WIDE RECEIVER

Buy Photo

Demontae Crumes catches a ball.(Photo: David R. Lutman, Special to Courier Journal)

Crumes may not have the statewide name recognition of some of the other top candidates, but he’s a University of Kentucky commit who will be a key player in a Butler offense that should score a lot of points this season. The 6-1, 165-pound Crumes was a big-play receiver for the Bears last season, recording 30 catches for 770 yards and 14 touchdowns. That’s an average of 25.7 yards per catch. The last Mr. Football winner from a Louisville public school was Male’s Douglas Beaumont in 2006.

STEPHEN HERRON JR.

TRINITY, DEFENSIVE END

Buy Photo

Stephen Herron Jr. (right) attempts a tackle vs. Champagnat Catholic in 2017.(Photo: David R. Lutman, Special to The Courier-Journal)

Only one defensive lineman has ever won Kentucky’s Mr. Football award, but Herron has a chance as perhaps the most recognizable player on the state’s top team. Herron, a 6-4, 235-pounder who recently changed his college commitment from Michigan to Stanford, is a two-time member of the Courier Journal’s first-team All-State squad and posted 43 tackles and eight sacks last year.

JOE JACKSON

JOHNSON CENTRAL, RUNNING BACK

The 6-foot, 194-pound Jackson played in just one game last year because of a knee injury but showed his promise as a sophomore when he rushed for 2,134 yards and 34 touchdowns and helped the Golden Eagles win the Class 4-A state championship. If he can stay healthy and post those kinds of numbers again this season, he may become the top Mr. Football candidate from the eastern part of the state.

CAMERON JONES

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, QUARTERBACK

At 6-8 and 245 pounds, Jones will be hard to overlook this season. The University of Cincinnati commit transferred to Lexington’s Frederick Douglass after passing for 2,646 yards and 27 touchdowns at Knott County Central last season. He completed 59.9 percent of his passes (179 of 299) and also rushed for seven touchdowns. This year he’ll lead a Frederick Douglass program that hopes to challenge Scott County as the best from the Lexington area.

WANDALE ROBINSON

WESTERN HILLS, RUNNING BACK

Transfer rumors surrounded Robinson during the off-season, but he’s back at the Class 3-A school in Frankfort and enters the season as the Mr. Football front-runner. Last year Robinson (5-9, 170 pounds) led the state in rushing yards (2,330) and scoring (260 points), averaged 13.2 yards per carry on 177 attempts, caught 25 passes for 343 yards and scored 43 touchdowns (33 rushing, six receiving, three kickoff returns, one punt return). He has narrowed his college choices to Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Purdue.

MILTON WRIGHT

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, WIDE RECEIVER

Buy Photo

Milton Wright (3) is congratulated by a teammate after scoring in a 2017 postseason game.(Photo: David R. Lutman, Special to Courier Journal)

A 6-3 190-pounder, Wright has been a household name in Louisville since bursting on the scene as a freshman and has a solid shot to win the award in his senior year. Last season he had 34 catches for 685 yards and nine touchdowns and also rushed for 346 yards and seven touchdowns on 61 carries while playing some at quarterback. He was a leader on defense as well, posting 40 tackles (23 solo) and four interceptions. He has narrowed his college choices to Alabama, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State and Purdue.